Mercedes expansion set to create huge investment and highly skilled jobs in Brackley

An F1 team’s plans to expand its campus has been given council approval despite opposition from nearby firms.

West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Strategic Planning Committee has approved the expansion of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas headquarters in Brackley, East Midlands, paving the way for substantial economic investment and the creation of over 500 jobs with diverse skill sets.

Situated on St James Road, the current headquarters serves as the operational centre for the Mercedes Formula One team, housing the design and construction of the team’s cars. The facility also conducts engineering work through its Applied Science engineering capability, undertaking projects such as designing the next British Challenger for the America’s Cup.

The primary focus of the planning application is to transform the site into a parkland campus setting, eliminating much of the existing car parking space and replacing it with trees and landscaping more fitting for a Formula One headquarters. A security gatehouse would also be fitted at the new entrance.

Mercedes envisions further expansion of its operations on the site, potentially diversifying beyond Formula One and increasing the workforce from 1,400 to 1,900 people within the next five years. The company is also committed to ambitious sustainability goals, aiming to achieve Net Zero by 2030.

Development manager for Mercedes-AMG F1, Ian Smith, said: “Our current site does not meet the future ambitions of the company moving forward. We need to make a significant investment in our site and create a world-class campus which ensures that we not only attract the highest calibre of staff but also attract and retain sponsors.”